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Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a person who will be instrumental in religious moral values ruling the entire world. The first stage of Hazrat Mahdi's (as) intellectual struggle will be to totally eradicate materialist, Darwinist and atheist ideas and to prove the fact of Creation. Because one of the main features of the End Times, when Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear, is that atheist and materialist ideas will be widespread, for which reason most people will live far removed from religious moral values. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi also stated that atheist philosophies would be one of the main perils of the End Times, and warned that Darwinist and materialist philosophy would prepare the ground for atheism:
A trend that denies Allah, born of Darwinist, materialist and atheist philosophies, will be increasingly spread by materialist philosophy in the End Times, and will gather strength, to the extent of even denying the existence of Allah. (Allah is surely beyond this)
(Emirdağ Addendum, p. 259)
For that reason, Bediuzzaman stated that Hazrat Mahdi's (as) first duty is to combat Darwinist, materialist and atheist philosophies based on denial of Allah and to entirely lift the influence that these philosophies have over people:
And he [(Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will have three great duties; the first IS TO SAVE THE FAITH, IN SUCH A WAY AS TO COMPLETELY SILENCE MATERIALIST PHILOSOPHY that spreads among people under the influence of science and philosophy through the scourge of Darwinism, materialism and atheism. To protect believers from heresy...
(Emirdağ Addendum, p. 259)
Hazrat Mahdi's (as) primarily proving the invalidity of Darwinism and setting out the fact of Creation is an important means of communicating the word also used by prophets in the past. Hazrat Musa (as) also first proved that belief in evolution is wrong and revealed Allah's creation with supporting evidence. The myth of evolution is a superstitious religion going back as far as Sumerian times. Belief in evolution was also widespread in Ancient Egypt. Pharaoh and his supporters believed in a primitive version of contemporary Darwinism and espoused that heretical belief. This is perfectly apparent from an examination of the history of religion in Egypt.
According to ancient Egyptian superstition, "Snakes, frogs, worms and rats form in mud produced by the River Nile flooding its banks." In other words, one of the basic false claims of Darwinism "living things came into being by chance, out of mud," was also widespread in Ancient Egypt. Therefore, when the Hazrat Musa (as) began preaching he first set about freeing the Egyptians from that error and eradicated evolutionist thinking. When Hazrat Musa (as) went to preach to Pharaoh, Pharaoh asked him, "What about the previous generations" (Surah Ta Ha, 51) in a manner reminiscent of the questions and mindsets of contemporary Darwinists. Inspired by Allah, Hazrat Musa (as) replied "Knowledge of them is with my Lord in a Book. My Lord does not misplace nor does He forget." (Surah Ta Ha, 52) and described the fact of Creation to Pharaoh with full supporting evidence.
The Qur'an reveals that when Hazrat Musa (as) cast his staff onto the ground it turned, by Allah's will, into a living snake. When he threw his staff onto the ground, a dead piece of wood turned into a living snake, and when he picked it up again, a living snake turned back into a dead piece of wood. When he threw it down again, it again came to life as a snake. In other words, inanimate matter comes to life, dies, then comes back to life again. Through this miracle, Allah reveals His constant creation. In verses we are told:
He threw it down AND SUDDENLY IT WAS A SLITHERING SNAKE. He said, 'Take hold of it and have no fear. We will return it to its original form. (Surah Ta Ha, 20-21)
"Throw down what is in your right hand. IT WILL SWALLOW UP THEIR HANDIWORK. Their handiwork is just a magician's trick. Magicians do not prosper wherever they go." (Surah Ta Ha, 69)
Throw down your staff.' Then when he saw it SLITHERING LIKE A SNAKE he turned and fled and did not turn back again. 'Have no fear, Musa. In My Presence the Messengers have no fear – (Surat an-Naml, 10)
When Hazrat Musa (as) threw his staff onto the ground, an inanimate piece of wood turned, as a blessing from Allah, into a fast-moving snake that immediately swallowed all the false snakes produced by the members of Pharaoh's entourage. People thus saw that this snake was a real snake. Because the act of swallowing was a sign that the snake was alive, that it had a stomach, that it ate, and was therefore a living thing. They then saw the snake try to escape, that it could move, another indication that it was alive. The people there thus came to grasp creation and even Pharaoh's assistants saw Allah's sublime creation and immediately prostrated themselves on the ground and believed in Him.
Through this means of communicating the word employed by the Hazrat Musa (as), Allah showed one example of how He creates life from nothing. Inanimate matter came into being by Allah's will alone, just by His commanding it to 'Be!' By the end of this encounter, during which Allah blessed him with a miracle, Hazrat Musa (as) had demolished the ancient Egyptians' superstitious evolutionary beliefs at a single stroke. Even those people who opposed Hazrat Musa (as) immediately grasped through truth through this mode of communication and abandoned their superstitious beliefs.
A similar means of communication to that of the Hazrat Musa (as) was used by the Hazrat 'Isa (as). In his preaching, he also strove against pagan thinking and beliefs and a Judaism that had become corrupted. He told people the truth, but he, too, first demonstrated the fact of Creation. It is revealed in the Qur'an how Hazrat 'Isa (as) made something in the shape of a bird out of a piece of clay and then breathed on it, at which, by Allah's will, it turned into a living creature:
|Remember when Allah said, ''Isa, son of Maryam, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and WHEN YOU CREATED A BIRD-SHAPE OUT OF CLAY BY MY PERMISSION AND THEN BREATHED INTO IT AND IT BECAME A BIRD BY MY PERMISSION... (Surat al-Ma'ida, 110)
This bird comes to life through no natural cause, but through the will of Allah and a miracle. A living bird emerging from inanimate matter is one of the examples of Almighty Allah's sublime creation independent of prior models or natural causes. Hazrat 'Isa (as) also first demonstrated the fact of Creation and enabled them to understand how Allah brings everything into being from nothing. By this miracle bestowed on him by Allah, Hazrat 'Isa (as) revealed the illogicality and invalidity of evolutionist thinking.
These methods employed by Hazrat Musa (as) and Hazrat 'Isa (as) clearly reveal the importance of "starting to preach by proving Creation.' When Hazrat Mahdi (as) begins his work Allah will also guide him to use the same technique. When he appears he will first demonstrate the invalidity of Darwinism, prove Creation and, as revealed by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, will wage an intellectual struggle of such a kind AS TO TOTALLY SILENCE Darwinism and materialism. "Completely neutralizing Darwinism and materialism all over the world" will be Hazrat Mahdi's (as) first task. And with the collapse of materialism, atheism and Darwinism, Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be instrumental in bringing all mankind to faith.


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Project Mexico Opens Registration for 2012 Summer Work Crews
Join us in building homes for the poor! Registration is now open for our 2012 Project Mexico summer work trips.
Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage is a pan-Orthodox ministry that operates with the blessing of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. Our orphanage for teenage boys is based in Rosarito, Mexico and is currently home to thirty-one boys who have histories of abuse and abandonment. During the summers, our homebuilding ministry builds sturdy, weather-proof homes for impoverished Mexican families in the area surrounding our orphanage.
This past summer over 300 volunteers from all over the U.S. and Canada built 14 homes for needy families in our area. Many came to serve the poor, yet received far more in return than that which they gave, calling their trip "life-changing" and "spiritually rejuvenating". We are currently planning our trips for next summer, and we ask that your parish consider participating in a homebuilding trip with our ministry. We can accomodate groups of any size and welcome high schoolers and college students as well as adults.

subset: commoncrawl


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Swarms of micro-satellites are cool and all, but sometimes you just want to crack open a cold one. They say to only invest in what you know – and we know beer. I practically majored in beer in college.
Enter Churchkey Can Co., a new startup cofounded by Adrian Grenier (Entourage). They've paired a heck of a pilsner with a steel can that you open with an actual church key, that pointy thing you already have in your kitchen that you never quite knew what it was for.
The beer is amazing (they're already selling it here in the Pacific Northwest and can't keep it on the shelves), and the packaging is genius, combining a steel can (steel is recycled more often than aluminum) and the nostalgic feeling of old style packaging.
Watch the fun promotional video here.
More about this on TechCrunch. Look for it soon at bars and stores near you (a church key is included with every six pack).
For those wondering, the picture above is my partner MG Siegler lovingly cradling a can of Churchkey at a recent party in Seattle.


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Growing strong.
Founded in 1994, Urban Harvest has garnered a well-deserved reputation as a leader in the local food movement. We've earned this role by adhering to clear and simple values and a focused mission:
Urban Harvest cultivates thriving communities through gardening and access to healthy, local food.
Under the direction of an all-volunteer board, Urban Harvest has grown from humble beginnings to employ a full-time staff and literally thousands of volunteers. Funding comes from nearly 1,500 annual memberships, and from individual and corporate donations, private foundations, and public grants.
Urban Harvest - Institutional V3 from Urban Harvest on Vimeo.


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RALEIGH � North Carolina and the federal government will jointly run a new one-stop shop to help people buy affordable health insurance, Gov. Beverly Perdue said Thursday.
Perdue, a Democrat, said she consulted with Gov.-elect Pat McCrory, a Republican, and chose a state-federal partnership to operate the health insurance exchange required by the Affordable Care Act. North Carolina lawmakers failed to establish the framework for a state-run insurance exchange in time for the initial launching late next year, Perdue said, and the only other option was for the federal government to fully run it.
After President Barack Obama was re-elected last week, North Carolina was among dozens of states scrambling to produce a blueprint for a statewide marketplace of private health plans for individuals and small businesses having difficulty finding affordable coverage.
"Finally we've realized it is the law of the land given the federal election results," Perdue said. "There now will be concentrated energy on implementing sections of the act. We'll continue to have questions and concerns I'm sure."
Republican governors in Virginia and Alabama have indicated they'll allow the federal government to set up the market in their states rather than take a role in the next phase of the federal health care overhaul known as Obamacare. Other states, such as Mississippi, have moved forward with plans to establish their own exchanges.
North Carolina lawmakers started work in 2011 on creating an exchange, but progress stalled as Republican leaders waited to see if the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the heath care overhaul. The high court cleared the law in June, days before lawmakers wrapped up their two-year session. Legislators did, however, express their intent to establish an exchange.
McCrory spokesman Ricky Diaz did not return calls Thursday asking whether the incoming governor agreed with Perdue's plans. The hybrid system can be changed later to all-state or all-federal management.
"This decision allows him (McCrory) the opportunity to then, in his own good time, make a decision that will be permanent for the state," Perdue said.
One goal of the Obama administration's health care overhaul is reducing the number of state residents under age 65 who were without health insurance in 2010. That number stood at 1.6 million, according to the latest estimate by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.
The law also provides federal funds to cover most of the early costs of expanding Medicaid to cover more uninsured families. McCrory and the GOP-controlled Legislature will have to decide whether to proceed and whether the state can afford its future share of the costs, state Health and Human Services Secretary Al Delia said.
North Carolina also is asking the federal government for money to help defray the cost of establishing an online exchange. State officials on Thursday were finalizing a grant application seeking money to help the state Insurance Department with management and consumer assistance costs, and the Department of Health and Human Services with IT costs, said Kerry Hall, a spokeswoman for the insurance agency.


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If I'm going to eat fried chicken, I want a crunchy, golden coating. Once again, Cook's Illustrated has come up with a brilliant recipe. The flour is seasoned with the same spices as the buttermilk brine, and baking powder is added to the flour.
I used a 12" Cast-Iron skillet, bringing the oil to 375F. This is when you want to have a trustworthy digital thermometer. My therma pen has become one of my indispensable kitchen tools. Pricey? Yes. Accurate? Every single time!
wired rack set and onto a baking sheet. (I have three sets of these, and use them all the time. They are indispensable, in my kitchen!) The chicken is baked until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 160 degrees for breasts and 175 for legs and thighs, 15 to 20 minutes. (Smaller pieces may cook faster than larger pieces. Remove pieces from oven as they reach -correct temperature.) Let chicken rest 5 minutes before serving.
A printable recipe is at the end of this post.


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TITLE: DVD category director
LEADERSHIP: Tesco, the U.K.'s largest retailer with an estimated £1 spent on DVDs out of every £7 spent in its stores, has been leading Brit grocers' invasion of the disc market since it first set its sights on the business.
Between 2005 and 2006, grocers nearly doubled their DVD market share in the biggest legal disc market outside the U.S., from 16% to 28.5%, according to research firm Screen Digest. Tesco's share was 12%, putting it in the lead for the category.
Tesco has built its business offering the lowest prices, and it's employed that strategy on DVDs, bringing in the top releases and offering them at discounts.
Tesco also has closely followed its customers' lead, announcing earlier this year it would cut some of the shelf space it devotes to DVD, telling British trade Cue Entertainment that shoppers increasingly want to download.
Like global competitors Wal-Mart and Carrefour, Tesco is aggressively expanding around the world, opening stores in China, Eastern Europe, Russia and even the U.S.
It offers studios new opportunities to sell legit DVDs to consumers in markets now dominated by piracy.
POV: "Grocers understand low-margin business really well," says Amy Heller of research firm Media ControlGfK. "They've been able to treat DVD like oranges and apples and Mars bars."


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Wool Cashmere Trench Coat
€1,495.00 €1,495.00
All orders will be fulfilled by Burberry Limited and shipped from the UK. When you place your order, you accept Burberry's Terms and Conditions and confirm that you have read our Privacy Policy.
Size Guide
Use the Size Guide to choose the best fit for your measurements.
In this window, you can find out the shipping and returns options for the selected item.
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- A classic belted trench coat, with military details, made from an Italian-woven wool and cashmere blend for an extra amount of warmth. Cut in our Kensington fit, the coat is softly tailored and perfect for layering.
- Coat length: 85cm/33.5in. This is based on a size UK 10 as proportions change slightly according to size.
- Model's height: 178cm/5ft 10in
- Outer: 80% wool, 20% cashmere with leather trim
- Undercollar: 70% wool, 20% polyamide, 10% cashmere
- Lining: 50% acetate, 50% viscose
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- Double-breasted button closure
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- Signature details: epaulettes, hook-and-eye collar closure, gun flap, belted cuffs, D-ring belt, check undercollar, storm shield
- Specialist dry clean
- Imported
Item 40192031
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The main home, slave cabins and other historic outbuildings at McLeod Plantation are in better shape today than they've been in years.
They are emerging from a $650,000 project aimed to restore most buildings' exteriors to their 1925 appearance and stabilize the rest from further decay.
While the property remains closed to the general public except for special tours and other events, that gradually will change, says Cynthia Montague, project manager with the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission.
This agency received the property last year and is planning how to protect it, interpret it and allow people to enjoy it and learn from it.
While those final details are being hammered out, the county knew it could proceed with some basic roof repairs, painting and other protective steps.
The main house, built in 1856 but expanded and remodeled in 1925, received a new metal roof that replaced a later asphalt shingle one. As roofer Sean McDonnell with Meadors Construction Inc. removed the old roof, he discovered remnants of the earlier roof that showed it was green — not red.
Architect Glenn Keyes, who helped oversee the work, says that was a happy find because he just assumed the metal roof was red because that's the color that survived on the roof of the one-story kitchen addition.
"We didn't feel a need to do color analysis because, of course, it was red," he says. "If you've got guys in the field paying attention, those things come up and it changes the project."
Keyes says the work also left intact the square copper patches on the house's siding. "It's not necessarily the way we would do it today in a restoration, but as a preservation approach, it worked pretty well," he says. "I think that's good, part of the story to be told."
Conservator Frances Ford pinpointed the original roof's green color as well as the light gray historically used on its siding. Nine missing shutters were replaced and the other 55 were restored and reattached.
All six of the surviving slave cabins, plus the kitchen and dairy, received a new treated cedar-plank roof and paint tinted to match the shade of a historic white limewash.
Two of the slave cabins eventually will be opened to the public to show how they evolved from the 19th century into the 20th century; the rest will be used as storage.
The other happy discovery was found inside the property's cotton gin structure, a large remnant from the property's history as a successful Sea Island cotton plantation.
Keyes says it had a lot of rotten siding, and he feared the structural supports were equally bad. That was not the case, so it received some new wood siding rather than a set of wooden braces like those that were used on the neighboring, leaning barn.
Instead, the bottom portion was opened up, and Montague says the Park and Recreation Commission hopes to receive a historic cotton gin to install inside.
A four-hole privy and nearby outbuilding later converted into a garage also have been braced up.
"We were able to do a lot more than we hoped," Keyes says of the recent work.
Montague says the county agency is finishing its master plan, one developed with extensive input from island residents, local preservationists and others.
It's also mapping out the next stage of work, which not only will renovate the building's interiors but will add parking, paths and new buildings to accommodate regular visitors.
That work could conclude next year, at which time the 40-acre property will become fully open to the public. Currently, it's only open for guided tours and other special events.
A caretaker lives on the site, but Montague says the plantation won't be ready to receive visitors full-time until sometime next year.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771.


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Vice City Mambas
The Vice City Mambas are Vice City's football team in the GTA III Era. The Vice City Mambas are Vice City's only known sports team in the Grand Theft Auto III Era. BJ Smith and Jose Pimsoll used to play with the Mambas.In Grand Theft Auto Advance, which takes place in 2000 another player is mentioned; Jose Pimsoll, who is the quarterback of the Mambas in 2000. In the mission Two-Hand Toss in Grand Theft Auto Advance, protagonist Mike has to injure a Mambas quarterback to improve the chances of the Liberty City Cocks to win, on orders from Asuka Kasen. The Mambas are assumed to play in Hyman Memorial Stadium, in Downtown Vice City. The Mambas are likely based off real life Miami football team, the Miami Dolphins.


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City Flag to be lowered in honor of 15-year-old Abukar Madey (Nov 5, 2013)
On Wednesday, November 6, the flag of the City of Portland will be lowered in honor of 15 year-old Abukar Madey, who was a victim of homicidal violence. The City flag will be lowered at City Hall, the Portland Building, the World Trade Center, Pioneer Courthouse Square, at Jeld-Wen Field, and at several fire stations.
"Abukar had just turned 15 years old a few days before his life was cut short," said Commissioner Dan Saltzman. "All of us feel the pain of losing this child, especially the Somali community."
Also on Wednesday, Commissioner Saltzman will make remarks in honor of Abukar at the 9:30am Portland City Council meeting at Portland City Hall.
City Council approved a resolution in April 2009 to lower the City's flag in honor of children who die from abuse, neglect, or homicidal violence. This marks the eleventh time that the flag has been lowered for this purpose.


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Project Y (2009)
Emerging Leaders 2009: Group Y
Sponsored by the American Library Association Reference and User Services Association http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusa.cfm
Create a databank from survey results of last year's Emerging Leaders Group O project ILL staffing survey.
Databank available at http://illsurvey.dabbledb.com
The main purpose of the project was to take the survey data out of the Survey Monkey software in which it was compiled and make it accessible to the ILL community in a easily accessible and extensible format. This involved the following steps:
- Work with project mentors to clarify project focus and confirm deliverables
- Research and evaluate software candidates
- Extract data from Survey Monkey
- Import data into new software
- Perform data cleanup
- Usability testing
- Obtain Web space for database
- Create poster outlining results
1/23 Submit initial list of questions to RUSA and EL mentor
2/13 Retrieve data from SurveyMonkey
2/20 Decide on database software to use; revisit categorization scheme from survey
3/20 Perform data clean-up;Discuss database design
4/17 Create database
5/1 Load survey data into database; secure/design Web space for database
5/15 Upload database to website; start usability tests of database, provide feedback
5/29 Write paper/walkthrough and create poster; final tweaks to database based on usability tests
The group's first course of action was to define a timeline (listed above), outlining group members' roles in the various steps required and selecting a project manager. Ongoing communication with the project mentors would be vital to each step. The group also decided that regular email communication would fit the project needs.
Initial discussions with the project mentors indicated that the databank should be searchable, easily accessible, and expandable. The envisioned audience would primarily be ILL librarians, ILL staff, and library administrators, but the intent was to put the data within easy reach of anyone interested in ILL staffing and service models.
After obtaining access to the survey data in Survey Monkey, the team discussed software candidates to house the databank. Although Microsoft Access was initially considered, the team decided on the Web-based product Dabble DB, http://www.dabbledb.com. This product met all of the requirements for the project and is available for free under a Creative Commons license. This would make the databank discoverable to a much larger Web audience.
With the approval of the project mentors, the team uploaded the survey data into Dabble DB. The next phase--data cleanup--involved editing the survey data to strip out any identifying information from respondents. At this point the team also discussed and reviewed categorization and presentation of the data, making some changes for a cleaner, more concise presentation. One example was changing the format of "yes/no" answers to a checkbox.
One of the challenges that emerged was slow response time when working with the database. Follow up with Dabble DB indicated that the size of the databank was to blame for slow response, and that creating multiple views was one option for improved performance. The team thus divided the data into nine separate views, based on library type and, in the case of academics, size. This improved performance.
The final step in creating the databank was providing a link via the RUSA website. The link will live in the RUSA Resources page (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/index.cfm) and will be featured as a spotlight on the RUSA home page during ALA Annual 2009.
The team poster includes the project description, timeline, conclusions, and some additional information about Dabble DB. Databank walkthroughs and access to the actual databank will be available at the poster session.
Dabble DB made an excellent online repository for the RUSA ILL survey data. This Web-based database application, available for free under the Creative Commons license, enables powerful queries and is both easy to access and expandable--all of which were requirements of the project. Housing the databank in a Creative Commons version of Dabble DB means that it will be discoverable via Web search engines, thereby releasing the data to a limitless audience.
Other possible uses of Dabble DB in an ILL operation might include:
- Budget monitoring
- Assessing custom holdings
- Processing copyright payments
- Internal needs assessment
Project Participants
Emerging Leaders 2009 Team Y members
- Lloyd Chittenden, Fort Lewis College
- Kathryn Munson, Southeastern Louisiana University
- Neil Romanosky, Columbia University
- Gretchen Smith, Georgia Southwestern State University
Project mentors and contacts
- Stephanie Atkins, Chair, RUSA STARS
- Chris Cieslak, Manager of Web Services, RUSA
- Linda Crook, Washington State University
- Barb Macikas, Executive Director, RUSA


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Wednesday , June 13, 2018 - 5:00 AM
OGDEN — Ogden City and one of three police officers who scuffled with an agitated traveler in the police station lobby have been absolved of civil court allegations of excessive force and violation of the man's gun rights.
Harold Mark Torbett, an Alabaman passing through Utah to take a new job in Seattle, walked into the Ogden Police Department on Feb. 8, 2016, to seek medical help.
Health emergency, gun possession result in broken femur at Ogden police station
Ogden City sued by man who broke hip in scuffle with police
But three officers who responded to a report of a man with a gun ended up tussling with Torbett, 60, and he suffered a broken femur when an officer took him to the ground.
Torbett and his wife, Regina, later filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, alleging police disregarded his physical distress, used excessive force to subdue him and violated his right to openly carry a firearm.
Judge Bruce Jenkins in Salt Lake City filed an order May 29, 2018, dismissing the claims against the city, the police department and Officer Zackary Martin.
The judge said he would rule later on the allegations against the other two officers, Travis Williams and Cody Marsh. Williams performed the takedown and Marsh grappled with Torbett to handcuff him.
Jenkins did not explain his decision. But in voluminous filings, Torbett's lawyers had faulted police on a variety of grounds, while city attorneys said the officers' actions were reasonable considering the circumstances of the confusing incident.
Asked Monday about Jenkins withholding a ruling on the actions of Williams and Marsh, an attorney representing Ogden City said the judge "wanted to further analyze the law with respect to those two officers."
"If he is not certain that the facts are clear, he may ask a jury" to make a determination, said the attorney, Stephen Noel.
While Jenkins removed the city, the police department and Martin as defendants, the city continues to represent the other two men because they are being sued in their capacity as police officers, Noel said.
At an Ogden hospital after the incident, doctors determined Torbett was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes that may cause mental confusion and stomach pain.
He told officers he believed he was suffering from food poisoning, and the officers said he also claimed someone had been shooting at him. In depositions, one of the officers testified he suspected Torbett may have been under the influence of controlled substances.
Torbett had a .22 caliber Walther PP semi-automatic handgun, which he said he had unloaded, disassembled and placed on a chair beside him while he waited for officers in the lobby.
But another person who had been in the lobby went outside and called police dispatch, saying he feared the strangely acting man might shoot him.
Williams and Martin, community police officers, were inside the station near the lobby entrance and heard the "man with a gun" call. They went to the lobby, meeting Marsh.
In depositions, Torbett and the officers offered divergent accounts of the ensuing confrontation.
Torbett said he asked several times for the officers to take him to the hospital. They said they summoned paramedics from the fire department next door but Torbett stood up from the couch and tried to leave.
Torbett's attorneys said he got up only after "he got the impression he was being interrogated rather than aided."
Williams extended his arm to block Torbett from leaving. Martin said Torbett began shaking a bottle of water, throwing it on his face and uniform. Torbett said water spilled because officers had begun to jostle him.
Torbett said Williams picked him up and "body-slammed" him to the floor.
Story continues below photo.
"I tried lifting him up to get his feet off the ground," Williams said in his deposition. "I tried to swing his legs to one side so I could sit him down. At that point, I collapsed my knees and my weight, and I heard him scream in pain."
The officer added, "I didn't slam him, didn't throw him down. I sat him down softly … I just tried to be super careful, accounting for his age."
Marsh described the takedown by Williams as "kind of like a paratrooper roll ... to minimize the impact when he hits the ground."
While the confrontation was captured on security video, the quality was so poor that nothing was clear. Police later had a better video system installed in the lobby.
Had he not been injured, Torbett would have been arrested and jailed, Marsh said.
"I had arrestable offenses on him — disorderly conduct, resisting and carrying concealed," Marsh said. "He said he was going to knock me out. He looked agitated and tensed up."
Torbett's attorneys contested officers' conclusion that the man had been carrying a concealed weapon.
They said he first tried to turn in the gun at the reception window but was refused. So he ejected a round from the chamber, disassembled the gun and set in on the couch.
Story continues below photo.
Torbett had a right to carry a weapon openly, and by refusing to hold his weapon for him, police violated the Utah Firearm Safe Harbor Law, the attorneys said.
Martin testified officers were focused on protecting public safety, and they wanted to know who had been shooting at Torbett. Letting him leave the station was not a good option, police said.
"When somebody's acting strangely in the lobby of a police station with a gun, that's usually not a good thing," Martin said. "So going into that situation, where a guy is sitting there with a gun right next to him, yeah, that's a bit concerning."
In court documents, an expert witness for Torbett said officers had more reasonable choices, "Including not grabbing the plaintiff, letting him walk out of the station, or accompanying him to his car to regain control through communication. and after making all those other attempts to de-escalate the situation, they could have decided to go hands on."
The witness added, "How is it that tackling an individual to the ground with sufficient force to shatter his hip is for that individual's own safety?"
Torbett's suit criticized the training of Ogden Police in recognizing signs of medical distress, restraining people without injury and recognizing lawful exercise of the Second Amendment.
But the city argued the city and its officers had "qualified immunity" from civil damages.
Qualified immunity, the city said, shields government employees from damage suits "so long as 'their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.'"
You can reach reporter Mark Shenefelt at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mshenefelt and like him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SEMarkShenefelt.
Sign up for e-mail news updates.


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Creating a happier world.One person, community and company at a time.
Science tells us that people are bad at predicting what keeps us happy. It also says that focusing on our passions and purpose can create sustainable happiness. Yet, here we are, a global society of people that are unhappy (or think they could be happier) in life.
Simply put, everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. To have a higher purpose. That's where we come in. We believe by prioritizing happiness in work and life, together we can create change in the world more than we ever thought possible.Tell me more


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Yamhill man's actions result in bomb squad callouts
The Oregon State Police Bomb Squad was called out to a rural Lafayette residence Wednesday night and then returned to the Safeway parking lot in McMinnville Thursday evening. The responses resulted in the arrest of a Yamhill man.
He allegedly claimed he was going to detonate explosives in a barn on the Lafayette property. Then he left what was disguised as an explosive device in bushes on the Safeway property.
Damon Gerad Parsons, 39, of 14944 Tupper Road, was charged by the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office with one count each of second-degree disorderly conduct, initiating a false police report and possession of a hoax destruction device. Those are misdemeanors.
Parsons was also wanted for failing to appear June 24 for a trial report conference related to a case in which he was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance/hydrocodone and methamphetamine. He was indicted by a grand jury last May on the charges.
Parsons was arraigned before Circuit Court Judge Ronald Stone Friday afternoon. He set bail at $25,000 and appointed Sheridan attorney Elana Andrew-Flynn to handle his defense.
See Tuesday's print edition for additional details.


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PAY TO PLAY: Did Sex Maniac Bill Clinton Pay Off Victim Debra Schiff With White House Gig?
Did sex-crazed Bill Clinton pay off his female victim Debra Schiff with a White House gig in 1993 to keep her silent about his groping hands? Notorious sex maniac Bill Clinton is shown groping Debra Schiff's leg in 1992 in this clip from ABC news: Deviant Bill was running for President as the Democratic nominee […]Read Story


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"There is no team that is staffed as good as mine," Chad Reed told Racer X in a December interview. "There is no team that does things right like mine. That may sound bold, but that's my true feeling. We have a bunch of bad asses on the team and I think it can only get better."
Dave Osterman is the man behind this group of bad asses, and so far in 2014, the group has delivered. Racing is very much a mental game, but it is also one of equipment, knowledge and preparation. Reed has those bases covered, and his staff includes some of the best names in the business.
We spoke with Osterman just before Chad's second win of the season at A3, and it's still a relevant conversation about the behind-the-scenes life of team Discount Tire TwoTwo Motorsports.
Racer X: Seems like things have really come together for you guys this season. That's not easy as Chad was one of the few top-level guys who switched bikes coming into 2014.
Dave Osterman: Well, hey, it's all new; we have a new color and a new team and new clothes for this year! But you know, our guys, we're all gnarly. Every single one of our team members is beyond dedicated. A lot of other guys, they just progressed into the, "Hey, happy new year" thing, because for them it was the same setting, the same bike, the same locker in the same semi. But for us, it was nothing like that. We moved out of the red house [Honda] after the Nationals, and basically we were all homeless. The team had no address and I had to find a place to park the truck. While we were sorting things out, we basically flopped on Mitch's [Payton] couch [at Pro Circuit] and worked out of his shop. But we were a factory team that was homeless. So once we settled on Kawasaki, we went to work on making the bike the best it could be. We had less than 90 days to do it, but my boys and Chad have built a bike that shows how strong we are as a team.
Well, the results thus far certainly show it. People talk about this staff as being a dream team of motocross. I assume that this played a huge role in getting that bike up to speed within the 90 days you spoke about?
Well, to start out with, we have lot of very, very good partners, such as Kawasaki and Pro Circuit and Showa, to name a few, and everyone is working hard. But yeah, it was our guys, they developed a bike the boss is happy with, and that's the hardest part of this whole riddle.
So who is your team this year? I recall hearing that you brought on Dean Gibson?
Well, Chad has been very involved in the staffing, and the group has been hand picked for sure. But our team roster is full, and I'm proud to say that we have the right guys for every piece of the puzzle. No one needs any babysitting. To start with, we have Shane Westlotorn who handles the truck and all the responsibilities that go along with that week in and week out. That's our mother ship, and it's a huge job. We have Goose [Mike Gosselaar], we have Lars [Lindstrom], we have Oscar Wirdeman for suspension and Dean Gibson doing our motors. We, uh, we borrowed Dean from Honda, but kind of on a permanent basis! Then we have Joel Bueler, he takes care of all of Chad's stuff and drives the motorhome. And of course, back in Florida, we have Mike McQuillin, he takes care of Chad's training facility and some of his bikes. All of that stuff, that's more than a full time job, for sure.
Plus yourself, right?
Well, yeah, but I don't always count myself when talking about the team. But for sure, we scrambled this year, and it was a testament to the team. New bike, new address and new colors all around.
Someone had mentioned to me that Goose is partially retired, and living in Idaho? How does that work?
Well, he is not retired, that is for sure! But yeah, Chad set up a deal with him, which was something that they worked out, and I think it works well for both of them. I think he and his wife own some land out there in Idaho, and they plan on building and retiring out there. But for now, he is very much still based in California and at his home up in the high desert. We all commute to the race shop when we're not on the road, and he's very much still involved with us.
Tell me about your new race shop, where exactly did you guys land?
Well, we took over the old L&M Racing facility. After the last owner decided to step away from racing, we basically made a deal with the owner of that program. Whatever was left, we bought out and took over the assets. All I had to do down at the shop they had built was buy toilet paper and soap, and it was basically up and running.
Thank you for your time, and good luck to you guys the rest of the season. It seems like Chad is back to where he was before his crash in Dallas a few years back.
Thank you. It's a team and a family effort with us. Chad is happy, and that's not easy to do. We got some bikes, but we built it mostly all on our own. We had some good direction from Pro Circuit and Kawi, but this was our deal and it's coming together!


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At UPMC St. Margaret, our pulmonary staff consists of board-certified physicians who specialize in:
We provide treatment for a wide range of pulmonary and respiratory-related conditions including:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that reduces airflow to the lungs as the result of either blockage or excess mucus secretion. The more you know about COPD, the more control you will have over your life. There are many resources available to help you and your family learn about COPD.
If you or a family member have COPD and have a UPMC St. Margaret primary care physician, you may benefit from our COPD home visit program. A registered nurse chronic disease care manager will visit you at home to teach you self-management of your COPD. The home visit program includes education on:
Speak to your primary care physician about enrolling in the home visit program. There is no charge to you or your insurance. For more information about the home visit program, call 412-784-5764.
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At the Center for Sleep Disorders at UPMC St. Margaret, we use state-of-the-art digital equipment to monitor sleep and determine the nature and severity of sleep disorders.
Staffed by expertly trained, caring, and experienced health care professionals, the Center uses a multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders. If needed, our team will collaborate on a patient's case, including:
For more information about the Center for Sleep Disorders at UPMC St. Margaret, please call 412-784-4380.
A pulmonary function test (PFT) measures how well your lungs function. Your physician might order you a PFT as part of a routine exam, especially if you smoke; to test your lung function before surgery; or to help diagnose lung conditions or diseases.
Testing is now offered at both UPMC St. Margaret (Monday through Friday) and UPMC Natrona Heights (Mondays and Thursdays).
For more information about PFT, call 412-784-4057.
People with chronic lung disease often benefit from participation in pulmonary rehabilitation.
Learn more about pulmonary rehabilitation services.
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Pulmonary Consultants-UPMCUPMC St. MargaretMedical Arts BuildingSuite 2040200 Delafield RoadPittsburgh, PA 15215412-784-5888
UPMC Natrona Heights1604 Burtner RoadSuite 2500Natrona Heights, PA 15065412-784-5888
Center for Sleep DisordersUPMC St. Margaret100 Delafield Rd.Medical Arts BuildingPittsburgh, PA 15215412-784-4380Pulmonary Function LabUPMC St. MargaretRespiratory Therapy Dept.3rd Floor815 Freeport RoadPittsburgh, PA 15215412-784-4057
Pulmonary Function BoothUPMC Natrona Heights1604 Burtner RoadNatrona Heights, PA 15065724-230-3126*Open Mondays and Thursdays
Smoking Cessation Hotline412-784-5043
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For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
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Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
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Hepatitis Immunoglobulin (HBIG)Skip to the navigation
Topic Overview
Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) is a solution of antibodies that are able to attach to the hepatitis B viruses and cause them to be destroyed.
An injection of HBIG may help prevent HBV infection if it is given within 14 days of exposure to the virus when you:
- Have not been immunized against HBV but have come in contact with the blood or body fluids (semen or vaginal fluids, including menstrual blood) of someone who has hepatitis B.
- Are being immunized against HBV but have not yet received all three shots in the vaccination series and are exposed to the virus. In most cases, HBIG will prevent infection until the vaccine takes effect.
A dose of HBIG also may be given to babies born to women who have hepatitis B.
HBIG is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
HBIG is prepared from blood products obtained from human donors. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, has never been transmitted by HBIG.
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ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology
Current as ofMarch 3, 2017
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Center for COPD and Emphysema at UPMC's Comprehensive Lung Center
Falk Medical Building, fourth floor
3601 Fifth Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Learn more about the Center for COPD and Emphysema by completing the form below. One of our representatives will respond to your email within 2 business days.
To help protect privacy, please do not provide personal information — such as your Social Security Number, date of birth, or health history — in your message.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
| Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
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Welcome to the Fest
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Getting to know you - this time, it's a game!
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Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 11921
Location: A false vacuum abiding in ignorance.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:24 pm
Post subject: Getting to know you - this time, it's a game!
Ok so this is a simple ice breaker game. Some of us know a bit about the others, some, not so much. Since there's a BUNCH of new people here since the last time this was played there should be a lot of new ground for all.
RULES: I'll start by posting four questions, then answering them. The next person answers them as well, and so forth and so on. After two or three days (gives time for people to answer questions) someone (me or whomever feels like it) will post four more questions. I'll compile the full list of questions on this first page for any who fall behind.
You can answer stuff as little or as much as you want, but as game meant to stimulate conversation, I think answering more works better than less. For reference
here's the old thread.
1. What is your favorite noodle based dish?
2. What is your highest level of education, and what, if any, degrees/certificates etc. do you have/are still working towards?
3. If you had to choose between losing a foot or a hand, which would you pick?
4. What was the best and worst present you've ever received?
5. How old were you when you learned to ride a bike?
6. What was the last sporting event you went to?
7. On a scale of one to fluffball, how furry are you?
8. Why?
9. What was / is your nickname, and why?
10. What was your favourite Christmas?
11. Is there a song that makes you dance your ass off, and what is it & why?
12. Are you happy with your current hair do?
...if a single
holds the eye, it will be as if the remaining leaves were not there.
Last edited by Darqcyde on Thu Sep 27, 2012 11:10 am; edited 1 time in total
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Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 11921
Location: A false vacuum abiding in ignorance.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:25 pm
Post subject:
1. Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino ("spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and chili peppers" in Italian), or as it's more commonly known, Aglio e olio. In my own personal variation I caramelize some onions with the garlic, but they aren't necessary. This is simply one of the easiest and simplest dishes anyone can make.
Also freshly grated parmesan helps balance out the dish.
2. I'm currently in college after a 8 year or so hiatus, going for a BFA in Creative Writing. I was previously going for Video Game Design for a little over a year prior to switching majors.
3. At first I was going to say my foot, but if I could choose which hand then I would choose my left hand.
4. The best present I ever received was my maternal grandmother paying for me to go to Germany for 11 days between my junior and senior years of high school. My worst was a re-gifted chandelier from my sister. It was ugly, didn't match anything in our house (it was brushed steel), and worst of all was WAY too big to fit in the low ceiling of my dining room. Considering the decor of her house, I'm pretty sure she gave it to me for the same reasons I detested it. I found out she had re-gifted it through a mutual acquaintance that gave it to her. According to them she was also given the receipt, which I really wish she had given to me. It was a waste of a $150 dollars during a time when I needed the money for things like baby supplies, clothing, and rent.
...if a single
holds the eye, it will be as if the remaining leaves were not there.
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Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 88
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 1:41 am
Post subject:
Oh hi. Long time lurker here, it seems I haven't posted in months, if not years - makes me wonder if I'm considered new or not.
Ha, anyways...
1) Pho. Granted, I've been eating it since I was a kid, but I've never been tired of it.
..Then again, would Pho be considered a soup-based dish? If so, then there are many noodle-based dishes that I like quite a bit. So much that it's become something like a rotation of favorites - as of this moment, the current favorite is Pad Thai.
2) I'm a first year transfer student from a junior college, finally getting started on my BS for Computer Science.
3) I'd pick a foot - I'm trying to imagine how life would be like in either case, and I think I'd put priority in keeping my hands over my feet.
4) The best present I could think of is when my sister got me a [new] ipod nano 4th generation. Back then, I really wanted my own mp3 player to listen to music and everything else an mp3 player does (note: it only plays music), and so I was pretty damn ecstatic when she showed it to me.
As for worst present.. I think I'll have to say a McDonald's "McRib is back!" t-shirt from my cousins that is about 2 or 3 sizes too small for me.
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Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 6306
Location: wasteland style
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:31 am
Post subject: Re: Getting to know you - this time, it's a game!
I'm really only answering these questions so I can answer number 2, but:
1. What is your favorite noodle based dish?
I once ate spaghetti bolognaise in Tirol, Austria and it was fucking delicious.
2. What is your highest level of education, and what, if any, degrees/certificates etc. do you have/are still working towards?
WELL I'M GLAD YOU ASKED because I just came back from my graduation as a Master of History (i'm the master of history yeah) and I threw a hat and everything. I'm now going to get an additional Master's degree in journalism.
3. If you had to choose between losing a foot or a hand, which would you pick?
foot, hands down
4. What was the best and worst present you've ever received?
worst: deodorant, in a secret santa thing in school. my secret santa couldn't be bothered getting a real gift so there. (note: i didn't stink)
best: no idea. can't think of anything
attitude of a street punk, only cutting selected words out of context to get onself excuse to let one's dirty mouth loose
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Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 11921
Location: A false vacuum abiding in ignorance.
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:53 pm
Post subject:
Good answer! There's a whole thread somewhere on how awesome pho is.
Also Gary, why haven't you posted here?
...if a single
holds the eye, it will be as if the remaining leaves were not there.
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Mr Gary
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 6895
Location: Some pub in England ... Uh, I mean, Scotland ... Uh, I mean, Spain ... Uh I mean Scotland again ...
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Getting to know you - this time, it's a game!
1. What is your favorite noodle based dish?
Some sort of Indonesian thing called Goreng something or other. Though I am rather partial to the Amsterdam noodle chain places, whatever they're called.
2. What is your highest level of education, and what, if any, degrees/certificates etc. do you have/are still working towards?
Dropped out of university first year.
3. If you had to choose between losing a foot or a hand, which would you pick?
At least if I lost a foot I could pretend I was one of the 'army of one legg'd men' from Flann O'Brien's
The Third Policeman
. Also if I lost a hand I'd not be a particularly good bartender.
4. What was the best and worst present you've ever received?
Easy. About seven years ago my Dad bought me a copy of
The Bookseller of Kabul
. It's actually a very interesting book, if memory serves. Only problem, he'd also bought it for me for my birthday four months earlier. Supplimentary, my Dad phoned me a few weeks ago to tell me he'd ordered my some books for my birthday this year round. Delivery guy brought me Riders, by Jilly Cooper and How To Quit Smoking, by Paul McKenna. I thought that was the worst present ever, had no idea how I would thank him for it, wondered if the man even knew me one bit. Delivery guy came back 30 mins later, he'd given me the wrong parcel.
Best? It's sappy and horrendously back looking and Halen and Michael would kill me for saying it, but a few years ago I began dating an especially attractive young lady, and on my 30th birthday she came round with chocolate cake and a 3litre box of cheap wine and spent the weekend in my bed. The whole thing ended horribly 18 months later, but when they say that on your deathbed you'll regret all the sex you didn't have, it won't count for me.
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Arc Tempest
Joined: 27 Jan 2007
Posts: 5317
Location: Oregon
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:31 pm
Post subject:
1: Mac and cheese with crushed jalapeno kettle chips mixed in. Because I'm white trash. And love cheese.
2: Bachelor's degree in forest management, may go back for a second bachelor's in forest engineering or *gag* a master's. Undecided.
3: Foot. Better prosthesis are available for feet and even a club foot wouldn't impair who I am and what I do nearly as much as losing a hand would.
4: Best, knife made from an old railroad spike. Worst, remote controlled car. On my sixteenth birthday. As I was drugged up and awaiting surgery.
The older I get, the more certain I become of one thing. True and abiding cynicism is simply a form of cowardice.
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Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 7395
Location: California
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:48 pm
Post subject:
1. spaghetti and marinara, although i've also got a healthy appreciation for ramen, mac and cheese, and stuffed ravioli
2. some associate's degrees, working on a bachelor's in philosophy; if all goes as planned i'll have that in hand by the end of June next year
3. foot. i would go insane if i lost one of my hands. have to relearn how to draw, write, type...ugh.
4. worst is from my evil grandmother, an expensive executive pen set when i was seven (i used them to draw Star Wars and Thomas the Tank Engine). best was a tablet that some of my friends pooled up money for and sent me, which taught me the magic of friendship.
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Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 9718
Location: I have to be somewhere? ::runs around frantically::
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:22 pm
Post subject:
1. Um, I don't do much with noodles. I rather like pad thai and I often make my own spaghetti and marinara.
2. BS in Engineering Management (minor in Industrial Psychology).
3. Foot - you lose so much less articulation.
4. Frankly I have no idea. Um, I love a tea set that I got once (the cast iron kind). Worse present? Um, my aunt got me terrible novelty underwear once (it was still cut all granny panties style but it was sheer) buuuut I didn't receive them until after she died (she died a few weeks before Christmas). Everything was uncomfortable.
Before God created Las he pondered on all the aspects a woman might have, he considered which ones would look good super-inflated and which ones to leave alone.
After much deliberation he gave her a giant comfort zone. - Michael
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Heretical Rants
Joined: 20 Jul 2009
Posts: 5344
Location: No.
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:54 pm
Post subject:
1) Whatever helps me maintain my black belt and 2% body fat.
2) I have a PhD in Everything.
...(okay, okay, fine, a BA in two things)
3) Foot.
4) The Universe.
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Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 1572
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:46 pm
Post subject:
1. One of the main ingredients is noodles, the rest is a secret
2. A master in Applied Economics, working towards a PhD in Operations Research
3. Foot, no contest
4. Best; I'll go with a large plush dog. I remember being very happy when I got him and he still has a place of honour in my bedroom.
Worst; A bottle of cava that I got as part of a "thank you" from a team I coached. I'm not very vocal about not drinking alcohol, but it isn't exactly a secret either.
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Flavius Maximus
Joined: 07 May 2011
Posts: 1100
Location: The Wrong side of the Reality Zone Sign
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:48 am
Post subject:
1. Fettuccine Alfredo
2. I went to high school ( class of '82 )
3. Right hand ( I'm left handed )
4.a. A friend gave me an iPod shuffle out of the blue. i have come to depend on it.
4.b.can't think of a bad present
Awesome Happens
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Joined: 09 May 2012
Posts: 3466
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:07 am
Post subject:
Yay questions!
1. Tom Yam cream shrimp noodle soup.
2. Crap, how to explain this to Americans. I guess my degree is a little below Bachelor (to explain, below Bachelors there are 4 levels and I'm on the 4th which is the highest) and currently I'm working an office job. I would like to get a Bachelor in Management perhaps a year or two later.
3. A foot. I need my hands for a gazillion things.
4. Best: A handdrawn portrait of me and my 4 close friends. I cherish it. <3
Worst: A card. I don't like cards. I don't mind you letting me know that you know it's my B-day, but I will throw it away. Sorry. You're better off sending me an e-mail.
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Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 3656
Location: America, fuck yeah!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:20 am
Post subject:
1. What is your favorite noodle based dish?
Shrimp fra diavolo.
2. What is your highest level of education, and what, if any, degrees/certificates etc. do you have/are still working towards?
MS in Software Engineering. I also have a graduate certificate in database systems technology. I'm PMP and ITIL foundation certified. I used to have some other IT certs, but they're long since obsolete.
3. If you had to choose between losing a foot or a hand, which would you pick?
Foot. As Arc and others have pointed out, the prosthetics for feet are so much more suited to their function. Heck, after watching that guy in the Olympics, maybe I should lose them both so I can run better.
4. What was the best and worst present you've ever received?
Best - probably the watch my wife got me a couple of years ago for my birthday. It's pretty fancy, but more importantly, it's made of polished tungsten. Not only does that make it very heavy, and draw attention from security folks when it goes through the x-ray screeners, it's for-all-intents-and-purposes scratch proof. I'm hard on stuff, and all I do is wipe the smudges off of this thing everyday, and it looks practically brand new. (I need to take it to be cleaned to get the gunk down in between the links cleaned out.)
Worst - impossible to say. I find it hard to dislike a present. If I were forced to choose, a couple of years ago for Xmas, our group manager (who gave everyone in our office in the group a gift) gave me a boxed Jack Daniels set that included a bottle of JD and a pair of coasters. I don't drink whisky. The coasters are nice, though.
The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference.
Charles Darwin
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Joined: 01 Oct 2006
Posts: 9137
Location: The thing in itself that is Will
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:15 am
Post subject:
Gary, I think you mean Wagamama or Wok to go?
1. Any thai stir fry with rice noodles
2. BA (Liberal Arts & Sciences, major in Film, Minor in Psychology) And currently doing a MA in Cognitive Semiotics
3. Foot
4. No bad presents, although I was mad at my parents for giving me something small for christmas (we don't give presents for x-mas). Or, you know, a break-up. Although in hindsight...
Best present was probably money. I love money.
When life gives you lemons, some people make lemonade. I just eat them and make a sour face.
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Online Community Management Training
With so many free and low cost tools and channels it's never been easier to create online communities. But do you have a strategy and a thorough understanding of the dynamics of communities at the different stages of a community lifecycle?
Are you comfortable with aligning your community to business and departmental objectives and do you have solid cross-departmental processes in place? Have you chosen appropriate tools and can your content and community engagement be described as best practice?
This workshop analyses the dynamics and secrets behind the most successful online communities and the tools used. It allows delegates to explore the core principles of effective community management and apply them to their communities.
The workshop also provides an opportunity for delegates to share experiences of common community issues and pressure points such as managing conflict, gaining management buy-in and justifying ongoing resource and budget.
Course Requirements: A wi-fi enabled laptop or tablet is required for this course. If you cannot bring your own please contact us to reserve a rental laptop at a cost of £50+VAT.
Who should attend?
Anybody working to develop or manage an online community.
How will I benefit?
Develop a strategy and a thorough understanding of the dynamics of communities at the different stages of a community lifecycle. Go back to the office ready to engage advocates across online touch points.
What will I learn?
Learning objectives
- To be able to design a sustainable community plan using appropriate models, tools and techniques
- To understand the role of tone of voice, content creation and curation in communities
- To evaluate appropriate community management techniques
- To handle difficult situations and conflict in communities
- To create success metrics for your community and evaluate against them
In-company training
This course can also be delivered exclusively for your team. In-company training ensures everyone is up to best practice standard and you'll benefit from a more open environment to discuss your most pressing issues.
For more information, please get in touch with the team at email@example.com or call us on (UK & Europe): +44 (0)207 970 4167 or US: 212-971-0630.
We are a registered provider with the CPD Standards Office. Delegates completing this course may be issued with a CPD Certificate of Attendance, which can be used within their formal CPD record for a professional body, institute, or employer.
Michelle Goodall
Michelle Goodall specialises in digital transformation, communications, content, community and social media strategies.
Formerly Head of Digital at Lexis Public Relations, she has more than 19 years' experience developing social media strategies, working on digital transformation projects and developing customer engagement strategies.
Michelle's clients, past and present, span many industries and include Dove, Direct Line, Charities Aid Foundation, Econsultancy, BBC, Building Research Establishment, Coca Cola, Domino's, eBay, Camelot, Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Diageo, Boots, McCarthy & Stone, Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board and Barclaycard.
She worked with LOCOG, the organising body for London2012, over a 4-year period and was involved in the highly successful social media/communications activity during the games itself.
Tutor for: Fast Track Digital Marketing - London, Getting to grips with Paid Social, Online Community Management, Social Media & Online PR, Social Media Customer Service


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SOURCE: Given Imaging
October 25, 2012 08:00 ET
Study Concludes SmartPill Is a More Cost-Effective Test for Patients With Upper and Lower Functional GI Symptoms Than Current Standard of Care
Study Concludes SmartPill Is a More Cost-Effective Test for Patients With Upper and Lower Functional GI Symptoms Than Current Standard of Care
LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - Oct 25, 2012) - Given Imaging Ltd. (NASDAQ: GIVN), a world leader in GI medical devices and pioneer of capsule endoscopy, today announced new data that was presented at the American College of Gastroenterology 2012 annual meeting that highlighted the economic value of using its newly acquired SmartPill GI monitoring system in evaluating patients with both upper and lower functional gastrointestinal symptoms.
Traditionally, patients with symptoms of upper or lower gastromotility disorders undergo gastric emptying scintigraphy and colonic sitzmarker testing. Due to the expense of conducting these types of evaluations, SmartPill is being studied as a cost-effective, radiation-free alternative for measuring gastric emptying and total GI transit times along with pH, pressure and temperature of the GI tract.
In the podium presentation, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Wireless Capsule Motility (WCM) Compared to Traditional Testing for Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (#62), Lauren Gerson, MD, MSc, FACG, Stanford University, presented findings from a five year Markov analysis comparing the SmartPill GI monitoring system with traditional testing, including gastric emptying scintigraphy and colonic sitzmarker testing, of upper or lower GI motility disorders. Using costs based on 2011 Medicare rates, the study used a 45-year-old female patient with both upper and lower GI functional symptoms as the base case to analyze cost and quality-adjusted life years. The study found that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for wireless capsule motility testing was $18.437 and concluded that SmartPill was the more cost-effective approach in patients with both upper and lower GI symptoms compared with traditional testing. The study also concluded that for patients with isolated upper GI or lower GI symptoms, traditional testing is preferred.
"The economic indicators presented in this study, along with the proven benefits of SmartPill as a patient-friendly tool for evaluating motility disorders like gastroparesis and constipation, make SmartPill an exciting addition to our portfolio of innovative GI solutions," said Homi Shamir, President and CEO, Given Imaging. "We look forward to leveraging Given Imaging's substantial technological, clinical, marketing and sales resources to help realize SmartPill's full potential."
About ACG
The American College of Gastroenterology is a recognized leader in educating GI professionals and the general public about digestive disorders. Their mission is to serve the evolving needs of physicians in the delivery of high quality scientific, humanistic and cost-effective health care to gastroenterology patients. For more information, visit http://gi.org.
About SmartPill® GI Monitoring System
SmartPill is an ingestible medical capsule device that provides data that can assist physicians in the evaluation of gastroparesis and chronic constipation. The SmartPill GI Monitoring System was granted initial 510(k) release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2006.
About Given Imaging Ltd.
Since pioneering the field of capsule endoscopy in 2001, Given Imaging has become a world leader in GI medical devices, offering health care providers a range of innovative options for visualizing, diagnosing and monitoring the digestive system. The company offers a broad product portfolio including PillCam® capsule endoscope for the small bowel, esophagus and colon. The company also offers industry-leading GI functional diagnostic solutions including ManoScan™ high-resolution manometry, Bravo® capsule-based pH monitoring, Digitrapper® pH-Z impedance, and the SmartPill® GI monitoring systems. Given Imaging is committed to delivering breakthrough innovations to the GI community and supporting its ongoing clinical needs. Given Imaging's headquarters are located in Yoqneam, Israel, with operating subsidiaries in the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Brazil. For more information, please visit www.givenimaging.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, projections about our business and our future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements may be, but are not necessarily, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," and words and terms of similar substance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the Company exploring strategic alternatives and considering possible strategic transactions involving the Company. Factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements to differ from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to reach agreement on any strategic alternative and/or to complete any such alternative, as well as the following: (1) our ability to develop and bring to market new products, (2) our ability to successfully complete any necessary or required clinical studies with our products, (3) our ability to receive regulatory clearance or approval to market our products or changes in regulatory environment, (4) our success in implementing our sales, marketing and manufacturing plans, (5) the level of adoption of our products by medical practitioners, (6) the emergence of other products that may make our products obsolete, (7) lack of an appropriate bowel preparation materials to be used with our PillCam COLON capsule, (8) protection and validity of patents and other intellectual property rights, (9) the impact of currency exchange rates, (10) the effect of competition by other companies, (11) the outcome of significant litigation, (12) our ability to obtain reimbursement for our product from government and commercial payors, (13) quarterly variations in operating results, (14) the possibility of armed conflict or civil or military unrest in Israel, (15) the impact of global economic conditions, (16) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, (17) changes and reforms in applicable healthcare laws and regulations, (18) quality issues and adverse events related to our products, such as capsule retention, aspiration and failure to attach or detach, bleeding or perforation that could require us to recall products and impact our sales and net income, and (19) other risks and factors disclosed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, risks and factors identified under such headings as "Risk Factors," "Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Operating Results and Financial Review and Prospects" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except to the extent expressly required under applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For further information contact:
Fern Lazar/David Carey
Lazar Partners Ltd.
email@example.com@lazarpartners.comIsrael Investor Contact:Nava Ladin
Gelbart Kahana Investor Relations
For further information contact:
Fern Lazar/David Carey
Lazar Partners Ltd.
firstname.lastname@example.com@lazarpartners.comIsrael Investor Contact:Nava Ladin
Gelbart Kahana Investor Relations
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Another day, another story on financial troubles at the federal government's mail monopolist. We don't expect the government to make our blue jeans, transport fruits and veggies from the farm to the market, build computers and IPods, or manage the manufacturing of automobiles, so why must it continue to deliver first-class mail?
Downsizing Blog
Uncle Sam a Generous Boss
Federal unions, government officials, and the Washington Post's "Federal Diary" column frequently suggest that federal civilian workers are underpaid. They suffer from a large "pay gap" compared to private sector workers, or so the story goes.
But in the Post's "Jobs" section yesterday, human resources specialist Lily Garcia argues that "Uncle Sam Is a Boss You Can Rely On." For job seekers, Garcia points to the many advantages of federal work:
Sen. Coburn's List of 100 Questionable "Stimulus" Projects
My old boss, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), has a report out this morning that identifies 100 "questionable" projects funded by the federal "stimulus" package. I'm not going to mention particular examples here. I'll simply say that I hope the theme that readers of the Coburn report come away with is that the federal government should not fund state and local activities. The numerous examples in the Coburn report provide concrete evidence of this truth, and I wish the report would have spent more time in the introduction fleshing it out. Fortunately, my colleague Chris Edwards wrote an excellent policy analysis on the problems with federal subsidies to state and local government. Thus, I would encourage those interested to read the Coburn and Edwards reports together.
The GOP Is Not Serious about Cutting Down Spending
A month ago, President Obama issued a list of proposed spending cuts that I dismissed as "unserious" due to the fact that they were trivial when compared to his proposed spending and debt increases. Today, the House Republican leadership released a list of proposed spending cuts.
I'd love to say I'm impressed, but I can't.
Both proposals indicate that neither side of the aisle grasps the severity of the country's ugly fiscal situation, or at least has the guts to do anything concrete about it.
The GOP proposal claims savings of more than $375 billion over five years, the bulk of which ($317 billion) would come from holding non-defense discretionary spending increases to no more than inflation over the next five years.
First, it should be cut — period. Second, non-defense discretionary spending only amounts to about 17% of all the money the federal government spends in a year, so singling out this pot of money misses the bigger picture. At least, defense spending, which is almost entirely discretionary, should be included in any cap. But it has become an article of faith in the Republican Party that reining in defense spending is tantamount to putting a white flag in the Statue of Liberty's hand.
Injustice of Federal Subsidies
Ohio lawmakers are hot under the collar about federal stimulus dollars possibly helping Georgia bid away one of its big employers. Here's the Dayton Daily News:
NCR's news release touting its decision to move jobs from Dayton to the Atlanta, Ga. suburbs includes one factoid that has Ohio lawmakers in a fury: The City of Columbus, Ga. plans to use federal stimulus dollars to buy a building and construct another to accommodate the 870 manufacturing jobs expected to come to the that Atlanta suburb. 'The fact that economic stimulus dollars were used to move an Ohio company to Georgia at taxpayer expense is an outrage,' said state Sen. Jon Husted.
Added U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Columbus: "Federal stimulus money is being used to create winners and losers among workers in different states and that's just not right; it's dirty."
All I can say to both parties is that's what you get for building an imperial city on the Potomac and spending the last few decades destroying the constitutional principle of federalism. As I've described in this study, regional warfare over federal subsidies has escalated in recent years. It's horribly wasteful, and it's getting worse.
Federal Workers Not Underpaid
The head of the Office of Personnel Management claims that federal workers are underpaid compared to private sector workers by 20 percent, on average. Federal unions and other cheerleaders for the bureaucracy have been making similar claims for years.
I've pointed out the dramatic acceleration of federal compensation over the last decade and the excessive generosity of federal worker benefits.
Federal workers are not underpaid.
Now a Human Resources expert writing in The Washington Post backs up my claims. Lily Garcia writes:
The primary advantages of working for the federal government are generous benefits, solid pay, and relative job security, a combination that is challenging to find in the private sector, even in the best of times … In addition to these benefits, federal employees, contrary to popular belief, are paid relatively well.
One policy implication is that federal worker compensation would be a good place to look for budget savings to reduce the federal deficit. We could start with a two-year freeze on federal salaries to save about $20 billion. During a recession, private wages are not increasing, so why should federal wages?
Taxpayers and the Federal Diary
The Federal Diary column in the Washington Post is a curious piece of newspaper real estate. Most newspaper columns are aimed at the broad general public, but this column is aimed directly at the few hundred thousand government workers in the DC region. The result is that it takes a very government- and union-centric view of the world. The fact that the federal civilian workforce costs taxpayers an enormous $300 billion or so every year is beside the point for the column.
In a briefing with reporters yesterday, the head of the Office of Personnel Management complained about a Lou Dobbs television bit that featured this data that I assembled from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Federal Diary columnist called me yesterday about the data, and I explained to him the shortcomings of the OPM claims that federal workers are underpaid.
Unfortunately, the Federal Diary today simply parrots the OPM's claims, calling the Dobbs/Edwards/BEA data "misleading." Yet this data clearly shows that federal compensation has taken off like a rocket this decade.
Barbarians Inside the Gate
I watched the congressional conference committee on the budget yesterday on CSPAN, and it seemed like the final fall and sacking of Rome. Two of the remaining generals defending fiscal sanity, Reps. Paul Ryan and Jeb Hensarling, pled with the invading barbarians to limit their fiscal pillaging and warned that the Treasury was empty. But the barbarians, in the form of Rep. Rosa DeLauro and others, had visions of spreading the empire's gold widely, and were not deterred by talk of damage to future generations.
The barbarians are inside the fiscal gate. The gate is the 60-vote margin usually required for big, new spending programs to pass in the Senate. Ryan and Hensarling were right that the Democrat budget plan could be a major turning point in the nation's fiscal history. The "reconcilation" process approved by the Democrats lowers the bill passage margin in the Senate to a simple majority. The procedure was put in place in the 1970s to control spending and reduce budget deficits. But the Democrats may try to use that budget-restraint mechanism for the opposite — to pass a massive new health care subsidy program.
Ryan and Hensarling have proposed an alternate fiscal vision, but their troops have left the field, and they will need to rebuild their armies before they can put that vision in place.
Obama's Spending Theory
President Obama focused on budget and economic issues in his press conference last night. One concern raised by reporters was that federal deficits were exploding and that Obama's big spending plans would seem to make the problem worse.
Obama's response was essentially that higher spending reduces the debt problem, which would strike most people as paradoxical to say the least:
Here's what I do know: If we don't tackle energy, if we don't improve our education system, if we don't drive down the costs of health care, if we're not making serious investments in science and technology and our infrastructure, then we won't grow [the economy by] 2.6 percent, we won't grow 2.2 percent. We won't grow. And so what we've said is, let's make the investments that ensure that we meet our growth targets that put us on a pathway to growth as opposed to a situation in which we're not making those investments and we still have trillion-dollar deficits.
First note that Obama's budget would drive government health care costs up, not down. But aside from that technicality, the economics of Obama's theory don't make any sense.
One Small Step for Private Airports
The New York Times reports that the nation's only privately financed commercial airport is set to open in Branson, Missouri.
Unlike government transportation projects such as the Big Dig, this private project has gone well so far: "'I think it's some kind of record,' Jeff Bourk, executive director of the airport, said of the speed of the construction. 'On other projects I've been involved in, there's a lot more red tape.'"
On the broader issue of America's airports, the Times notes:
Every one of the 552 airports providing commercial air service in the United States receives some kind of federal money, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and these airports are owned by public entities, municipalities, transportation districts or airport authorities.
In airports, America embraces socialism, while free enterprise has taken hold abroad. Many major cities around the world have privatized their airports in recent decades, as I discuss here.
The growth in private airports faces a number of hurdles in America. One problem is that government airports receive federal, state, and local subsidies, which makes it hard for private companies to compete. Another problem is the tax-deductibility of state/local ("muni") bonds, which gives government facilities a financing advantage over private projects.